Mike Bloomberg on Aurora Shooting: What Are Obama, Romney Going To Do About Guns?

As developments emerge about an Aurora, Colo. shooting that left at least 12 dead and 50 injured, Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- long a staunch advocate of gun control -- has slammed both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney for failing to adequately address firearms issues.

On the "The John Gambling Show with Mayor Mike," Bloomberg said this morning: "You know, soothing words are nice, but maybe it's time that the two people who want to be President of the United States stand up and tell us what they are going to do about it, because this is obviously a problem across the country."

Bloomberg's words come as both President Obama and G.O.P Contender Mitt Romney released statements expressing their condolences, with Barack saying:

"Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded."

Said Romney:

"Ann and I are deeply saddened by the news of the senseless violence that took the lives of 15 people in Colorado and injured dozens more...We are praying for the families and loved ones of the victims during this time of deep shock and immense grief. We expect that the person responsible for this terrible crime will be quickly brought to justice."

Bloomberg, however, directly lambasted both presidential candidates as lacking leadership on gun control, saying: "Everybody always says, 'Isn't it tragic,' and you know, we look for was the guy, as you said, maybe trying to recreate Batman. I mean, there are so many murders with guns every day, it's just got to stop. And instead of the two people -- President Obama and Governor Romney - talking in broad things about they want to make the world a better place, okay, tell us how. And this is a real problem."

"No matter where you stand on the Second Amendment, no matter where you stand on guns, we have a right to hear from both of them concretely, not just in generalities -- specifically what are they going to do about guns? I can tell you what we do here in New York. The State Legislature passed the toughest gun laws -- some states may say no. That's okay, what do you want to do? And maybe every Governor should stand up. But in the end, it is really the leadership at a national level, which is whoever is going to be President of the United States starting next January 1st -- what are they going to do about guns?"

Gambling expressed cynicism that any change would take place.

Bloomberg, however, insisted that reform could happen if enough people were to mobilize in favor of tougher controls, saying: "It'll happen, John, if it was one of your kids yesterday in Aurora, maybe you'd stand up and say I'm not going to take this anymore. Maybe you get your friends and everything."

Again, Gambling shot back with skepticism, asking: "Don't you think that's true again because the public doesn't really know what it wants to hear? Doesn't really care enough about that? And that the candidate has to play to the base because it's the only way he or she is going to get elected, and therefor if he doesn't get elected he can't do anything?"

Bloomberg then launched into a discussion of electability and how that doesn't relate to integrity or good policies.

"It's like saying, you know, I can be dishonest because I won't get elected and then I can't be honest. I mean, come on. You know, but number one, there's something more important than getting elected, and that's standing up and saying what you think is right. I mean, I listen to this all the time, everything -- oh, it's getting reelected. Getting reelected or elected isn't everything. How do you -- you've got to look your family in the eye, you've got to look yourself in the mirror and say this is what I really believe and this is what I'll do if I get elected. And if it sells it sells, and if it doesn't sell it doesn't sell. And you know, you say people don't know. Yeah, I think that's fair.

People don't have a solution, or everybody has a different solution. But that's why we elect governors and presidents and legislators to lead from the front, to come up with solutions, to tell us what those solutions they think are. Some will work, some won't, some they'll get through the Legislature, some they won't be able to. But you still -- if we just say, 'Well, there's nothing you can do about it.' Think about where we're going. This country is in very big trouble, and we need the two presidential candidates to tell us how they're going to take us out of this. We used to be here in New York in the top ten in education in every standard. We're lucky to be in the top 50. We used to have all the new jobs created here in this country. Everybody talks about jobs. Tell us specifically how you're going to do it. New York City, we have our plans -- some good, some bad, some people like them, some don't - but we're talking about the future of the country. Tax policy - you know, they talk about, 'I'm going to reduce everybody's taxes,' or, 'I'm going to reduce taxes for the group that I think will vote for me the most.' That's just not the way to do it. But guns -- get back to Aurora -- this is killing people every day, and it's growing and it's not just an inner-city, East Coast, West Coast, big city phenomenon. Aurora is not a big city."

Bloomberg then mentioned that the murder rate in rural areas is just as bad -- if not worse -- in rural areas, to Gambling's reply: "Have you ever talked with anybody about the psychology of that? I know the gun issue, but the psychology of that. Have we become less sensitive to our neighbor?"

Bloomberg didn't offer opinions on murderers' M.O.s, but again pointed to firearm accessibility as the true culprit:

"I don't know about that. You know, I'm not a physiatrist or a psychologist. I can tell you I don't think there's any other developed country in the world that has remotely the problem we have. There's no other place that allows- we have more guns than people in this country. Every place else, if there are murders they're generally not done with guns -- not generally, a lot more are not done with guns. And everybody's got problems with crime, and you know, that's the real world. God didn't make everybody perfect.

But this is just -- you know, and we can talk about it on the talk shows, we can wring our hands and say it's terrible. You know, 'I need more guns to protect myself.' And that strategy doesn't work. That's like saying incarcerate more people and you'll reduce crime rate. In New York City, we've reduced the incarceration -- the number of people incarcerated by over a third and crime keeps coming down. Because when you send somebody to jail -- particularly a kid -- all they do is learn how to be a worse criminal. So that's just not a good solution. You may be able to say, 'I'll put her in jail and throw away the key.' That sounds good, but it doesn't solve the problem."

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Sad story that is made possible because of easy access to guns, and not just guns but assault weapons.

Bloomberg is a big player on Wall Street yet where is his voice on the GUN MANUFACTURERS. Where is his call for the manufacturers to do more. What about city pension monies and other monies invested on Wall Street. Can he assure NYC residents that no City funds support Gun Manufacturers or how about movies that glorify weapons and killing as well as video games that do the same. Can Bloomberg assure us that City funds do not support these media companies. Oh wait, Bloomberg is a media mogul himself so he certainly would not say anything to his fellow media moguls who are literally advertising outlets for weapons.

Bloomberg and Gun Ads on Subway and Buses. What is Bloomberg talking about. Most movie ads have some Famous actor aiming the latest gun, assault weapon as they advertise their newest action movie. Will Smith, Bruce Willis and Denzel have all been featured aiming or carrying weapons on NYC property. What does this overt ad for guns mean to 1.2 million school children who ride the trains and see these billboards every day. What about the gangs. Every kid in a NYC public school knows how to get a gun if they want one. Many kids can accurately identify assault weapons and know how to fire them and many didn't learn from video games. The Gangs of NEW YORK import weapons and distribute them across New York State. WHAT IS BLOOMBERG DOING ABOUT GANG VIOLENCE. WHEN WILL HE ADDRESS THE GANGS IN THE HOUSING PROJECTS. WHEN WILL HE ADDRESS GANG GUNS BEING USED AGAINST NYC POLICE OFFICERS. OH, I FORGOT. FIRST WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE drinking super-sized sodas, young minority men need to be "stopped and frisked" for no reason and those parking tickets, traffic tickets and sanitation tickets are more important.

When Bloomberg leaves office this city will realize that NYC got the biggest screw job since they drilled the Queens Midtown Tunnel. Bloomberg is Romney on Steroids but instead of Bain it is the Real Estate moguls and technology companies that robbed the Department of Education and other city agencies and sadly the citizens of New York. The 1% in New York did very well under Mayor Mike.

In response to Mr. Bloomberg's rhetorical question, what is President Obama or Candidate Romney going to do, I in turn ask Mr. Bloomberg, what are you going to do to end gun violence? Death by guns is a travesty being played out on city streets throughout this country for decades - not just this morning; a consequence of weak gun control laws sanctioned by all of our political leaders. You should ask your question of all our country's governors, senators, congresswo/men, mayors... The question should be Mr. Bloomberg - what are WE, the people of this great country going to do about the proliferation of gun sales in our great country, the ease of acquiring guns in our great country, the ease to kill innocent people in this great country? No sir, your question is all wrong. What are you going to do about about rampant gun violence in our great country? It is not the duty of one man, it is the concern of all men and women in this great country. Can you say NRA?

Sad day again. Another assault weapon in the hands of a nut. Bloomberg says much but his actions within New York City speak louder. Guns come into New York City because of Gangs. Gangs sell guns and use guns to enforce their drug and prostitution businesses. What has Bloomberg done to address the Gang Problem in NYC. Oh, I forgot. There is no gang problem in New York City.